Constitutional Law Reporter
Award
Menu
  • Home
  • US Constitution
  • Supreme Court Cases
  • Justices
    • Chief Supreme Court Justices
    • Current Supreme Court Justices
    • Past US Supreme Court Justices
  • American Biographies
    • General
    • Presidents
    • Vice-Presidents
  • Articles
    • Current Cases
    • Historical Cases
    • Impeachment
  • Videos
  • Links
Hot-Topics

May 6, 2025 | SCOTUS Rules Non-Citizens Must Challenge Removal Under Alien Enemies Act

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
<< Back

Charles Evans Hughes

Charles Evans Hughes

Charles Evans Hughes served as Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1930 to 1941. His distinguished career in public service also included serving as Governor of New York, Secretary of State, and an Associate Supreme Court Justice.

Early Life

Hughes was born in New York in 1862. He graduated from Brown University and Columbia Law School. After becoming a prominent New York lawyer and leading several high-profile corruption investigations, Hughes was elected Governor of New York in 1906. During his tenure, Hughes enacted a number of Progressive social reforms, including campaign finance reform, expanded regulatory oversight over business, and labor protections for child workers.

Career

In 1910, Hughes was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court by President William Howard Taft. On the Court, Hughes authored several decisions that expanded the regulatory powers of both the state and federal governments under the Commerce Clause and other provisions of the U.S. Constitution. Hughes resigned from the Supreme Court to run for President against incumbent Woodrow Wilson as the candidate of the Republican Party. He narrowly lost the election.

Hughes returned to public service as Secretary of State under President Warren G. Harding. In this post, Hughes notably negotiated a separate peace treaty with Germany after the Senate refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles. He also chaired the Washington Disarmament Conference in 1921-1922, which reduced naval armament in the wake of World War II.

Later Career

After Harding’s death and Calvin Coolidge’s election to a full term, Hughes resigned as Secretary of State. He later served as a Permanent Court of International Justice at The Hague from 1928 until 1930. President Herbert Hoover nominated Hughes to serve as the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1930.

Over more than one decade later, Hughes authored 199 majority opinions, several of which addressed the constitutionality of New Deal laws enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. While he often upheld the President’s legislation, he also struck down others, authoring the decision in Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States. Hughes’ tenure as Chief Justice was also colored by President Roosevelt’s controversial plan to pack the Court with up to six additional justices, which ultimately failed.

Previous Articles

Causing Physical Harm Always Involves “Use of Force”
by DONALD SCARINCI on April 29, 2025

In Delligatti v. United States, 604 U.S. ____ (2025), the U.S. Supreme Court held that the knowing ...

Read More
SCOTUS Confirms Right to Renew Lawsuit Ater Voluntary Dismissal
by DONALD SCARINCI on April 22, 2025

In Waetzig v. Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., 604 U.S. ____ (2025), the U.S. Supreme Court held ...

Read More
Supreme Court Rules Trademark Infringement Damages Include Only Named Defendant’s Profits
by DONALD SCARINCI on April 14, 2025

In Dewberry Group, Inc. v. Dewberry Engineers, Inc., 604 U.S. __ (2025), the U.S. SupremeCourt held...

Read More
All Posts

The Amendments

  • Amendment1
    • Establishment ClauseFree Exercise Clause
    • Freedom of Speech
    • Freedoms of Press
    • Freedom of Assembly, and Petitition
    Read More
  • Amendment2
    • The Right to Bear Arms
    Read More
  • Amendment4
    • Unreasonable Searches and Seizures
    Read More
  • Amendment5
    • Due Process
    • Eminent Domain
    • Rights of Criminal Defendants
    Read More

Preamble to the Bill of Rights

Congress of the United States begun and held at the City of New-York, on Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.

THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.

Read More

More Recent Posts

  • SCOTUS Clarifies Bruen in Upholding Federal Gun Law
  • SCOTUS Rules Challenged South Carolina District Is Not a Racial Gerrymander
  • Supreme Court Rejects Strict Criminal Forfeiture Timelines
  • Supreme Court Clarifies “Safety Valve” in Federal Criminal Sentencing Laws

Constitutional Law Reporter Twitter

A Twitter List by S_H_Law

Constitutional Law Reporter RSS

donald scarinci constitutional law attorney

Editor

Donald Scarinci

Managing Partner

Scarinci Hollenbeck

(201) 806-3364

Awards

Follow me

© 2018 Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC. All rights reserved.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Attorney Advertising